Drivers traveling on the northern portion of Interstate 275 will soon have some breathing room.
The Ohio Department of Transportation on Monday plans to open the first of two SmartLanes that will allow vehicles to use the median during the morning rush hour. This will create a fourth lane for commuters on weekdays between approximately 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
The SmartLane – the first in southwestern Ohio – will run between Reed-Hartman Highway and Loveland-Madeira Road on westbound I-275. That’s approximately between Blue Ash and Loveland.
Less traffic jams, fewer accidents
With 95,000 to 115,000 vehicles traveling on that section of I-275 per day, the SmartLane will help ease traffic congestion and reduce crashes, the department said in a news release.
The project’s design, supported by technology, will “help reduce highway safety risks,” the release said.
How SmartLane will work
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Transportation staff will monitor traffic in the area and open the SmartLane if traffic is moving slower than 55 mph.
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Digital signs mark the inner shoulder strip with a green arrow during use. The lane is marked with a red X when closed and a yellow X when closed.
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Digital signs will also adjust speed limits. When the SmartLane is open, all traffic on that stretch of I-275 will be traveling at 55 mph or less instead of the usual 60 mph.
What will SmartLane cost?
The westbound I-275 SmartLane is part of a $22.3 million interstate project that includes repairs and renewal of the asphalt between US 42 and State Route 28.
An eastbound I-275 SmartLane is planned, with construction set to begin in 2028 if financing is secured. It will cover the entire distance of the highway project. The balance of the western SmartLane will then also be completed to match the start and end points of the eastern SmartLane.
The total eastbound interstate work will cost $69.5 million. It calls for widening the bridges over the Little Miami River and improving the interchange at Interstate 71, in addition to installing the SmartLane and related technology.
The I-275 improvements are among more than 100 construction projects for the Ohio Transportation Department’s District 8 this year. They include 38 in Hamilton County, 14 in Clermont, 12 in Greene, 11 in Butler, 10 in Preble, nine each in Warren and Clinton, and six countywide.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: SmartLane: What’s new on I-275?
